Georgia Fishing – Here’s this week’s report from Ken!
“The Southern Fishing Report”
By Ken Sturdivant
106HickoryRidge
770 889 2654
CummingGeorgia30040
March 6, 2014
LAKE LANIER IS .53 FEET DOWN FROM FULL POOL, THEMAINLAKEIS CLEAR & CREEKS ARE PARTLY STAINED & 49 DEGREES
This Lake Lanier Bass report is from Jimbo Mathley. www.jimboonlanier.com 770 642 7764
Bass fishing has been steady over the past week. Fish can still be found in the back of creeks and on secondary points at the mouth of creek arms as well as pockets near the main creek channels. A jig, a Davis Shaky Head and a jerk bait have been the most productive lures. The dock bite is starting to pick up as well. Look for the docks in the 15 feet range at the front to be the best right now, and if brush is around, even better. Also, look for the rocky areas in creek that receive all day sun to continue to produce as well. These areas still need to be next to deep water for the most part. Now is a great time to learn prespawn fishing on Lanier. I have the following dates open next week: March 11 and 12.
This Striper report is from Captain Ken West and Captain Mike Maddalena of Big Fish On Service 404 561 2564. www.bigfishonguide.com
Striper fishing is good as the lake water temperatures begin to rise. With a little luck we can say goodbye to the freezing temperatures. The lake is clear with the back of the creeks slightly stained and the water temperatures are ranging from 48 to 50 degrees. The forecast looks favorable for this week and the fish will become more active in search of the warmest water and the greatest concentrations of bait. Points and flats half way back in the creeks to all the way back will be your best bets. With the warmer temperatures we can start to increase the size of our bait and begin to pull shallower. Herring, gizzard shad and trout will be the primary bait once the temperatures reach mid 50’s. Flat lines and planner boards have been the best technique. Use split shots and vary your distance from the boat on some lines to cover a range of depths. Don’t forget to cast a 1/2 ounce buck tail jig with a small fluke while you are pulling baits. There is also an umbrella rig bite on points and flats. Try downsizing your umbrella rigs with 1/2 ounce jigs and pull them shallower and slower. Flat Creek, Balus Creek, Johnson Creek and Latham Creek and River Forks have been producing and are good places to start.
This Lake Lanier Crappie report is from Dan Saknini, President of the Lanier Crappie Angler’s Club. 404-425-4059
Crappie fishing is good. It’s all about water temperature. A known fact: in the last thirty days or so we were literally using our boats to crush ice north of Clark’s Bridge boat ramp. Water temperature below the ice was 39 degrees. We then witnessed the combination of warm spells and warm rain, and in the very backs of the stained creeks saw temperatures in the last week or so as high as 58.4 degrees. Our average temperatures over the past month ranged in the mid forty degrees, which is the current water temperature. There are two groups of fish you can target right now. Mother Nature is telling the females (obviously the bigger fish) to prepare for the spawn, although still several weeks away. They are roaming the flats. Areas to target are the backs of Four Mile Creek, Two Mile Creek, Sardis Creek, Wahoo Creek and Yellow Creek. The best way to catch them is trolling with long lines, using darker color curly tails with some chartreuse. Another way is to tight line, using four 10 to 12 foot long rods, with a 3/8 ounce egg sinker (or lighter if there’s no wind), a 2 foot leader, a number 6 hook and crappie minnows. This way you are covering a lot of water because the females are on the move and are constantly feeding. For those of you who enjoy shooting docks, you will be after mostly males. Target docks in 15 feet of water toward the backs of the creeks. Jiffy jigs and 1/24 ounce jig heads are working well. If you’re a beginner, try using soft body jigs, which tend to skip the water and make it easier to shoot the docks. Your bites will be mostly on the fall. Use 4 pound high visibility Mr. Crappie line. Your Lowrance side imagery really comes into play this time of year, helping you locate the schools much quicker. Another statistic: even with the drastic temperature changes, members of the Lanier Crappie Anglers Club have caught well over a thousand fish in the past month. This past Saturday one of our members, David Smith, won our monthly Challenge, weighing in seven fish for a total of 12.52 pounds, setting a club record. Stay safe on the water, and always wear a life jacket. Dan Saknini is an avid fisherman and President of the Lanier Crappie Anglers Club. See our club’s website, www.lakelaniercrappieanglers.com
Call Ken Sturdivant about the ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for Sonar or the Rods, Reels and Lures for Bass or a full day STRIPERSSchool. Call 770 889 2654 for details. Send an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com
March 6, 2014
WESTPOINTLAKEIS DOWN 4.2 FEET, STAINED & 46 DEGREES
Bass fishing is good. Fishing the mid lake and down is good with the Lucky Craft Staysee 90 in the AYU color. Fish this bait with fast jerks and the occasional pause but see what the fish want from day to day. Fish the mouths of creeks and work your way to the secondary points to try and catch the pressman fish. Use the green pumpkin 5” GaryYamamoto Senko. Fish this bait around blow downs and other under water structure and caught some really nice sized spotted bass. Good creeks to fish right now are Wedhadkee Creek, Bird Creek and Maple Creek. The trick to finding fish right now is covering a lot of water and learning what key areas are productive. Use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology to help find the concentrations of bait and the bass will be there too. We have GPS Bass fishing locations and a BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKEbook for sale. Ask ken for a sample. This book is $39.00. If you would like a sample, send us an e mail to ken@southernfishing.com
March 6, 2014
LAKEALLATOONAIS DOWN 9.4 FEET, STAINED & 45 DEGREES
This LakeAllatoonabass fishing report is from Matt Driver, www.proanglerradio.com 404 456 6094
Bass fishing is fair. The bass are in transition to shallower water and the spawn will start toward the end of the month. Covering water in search of bass is the ticket. Lipless crank baits and medium and shallow runners will be hot. Spro Little Johns, Spro Fat Johns, Aruku Shads and McStick jerk baits are a few that we will be using. Ten feet and shallower is the depth to target. Don’t let stained water deter you. Muddy water heats up faster. The late to day bite is better as the water warms. Ditches near spawning flats give bass the ability to have the best of both worlds or deep routes to shallow flats. Once you locate these schools, the Kacys Kustom jig in green pumpkin and bluegill fire is the ticket to pick them off. March is the best time to catch a big fish on Allatoona.
This LakeAllatoonafishing guides report for striper and hybrid has been brought to you exclusively by Robert Eidson of First Bite Guide Service, 770 827 6282
www.firstbiteguideservice.com eidson6260@comcast.net.
Line side fishing is fair. The shad kill is almost over and the bite should be returning to normal very soon. This was one of the biggest shad kills we have seen on Lake Allatoona in the last 10 years. This made fishing tough for a few weeks. But the good news is it will make for a great spring. We look for the fish to move north this month. We should start seeing them show up the mid to lake areas like around Bartow Carver the first week of March. They should starting heading to the Delta by the end of March to start staging for the spawn run the first week of April. We are targeting the backs of the creeks from Cooper Branch to as far north as Kellogg Creek. Working best right now are gizzard shad and small threadfins fished on free lines and planner boards early and then again late in the day in the back of the main to lake creeks. As we move into March, look for these fish to move out of the creeks to main to lake humps and points. Once these fish move to the main lake, down lining live bait and trolling umbrella rigs will be your best bet. Call Ken about the Southern Fishing Schools exclusive ON THE WATER SCHOOLS for SONAR or Rods Reels and Lures for Bass. Call for 770 889 2654 or ken@southernfishing.com for more info
March 6, 2014
LAKEHARTWELLIS FULL POOL. THEMAINLAKEIS CLEAR & 51 DEGREES, THE BACKS OF CREEKS ARE SLIGHTLY STAINED AND 57 DEGREES
From Jimbo’s Guide Service onLakeHartwellby guideRickSteckelberg.
Bass fishing is fair. The fish can be found in main lake pockets and ditches and have been very shallow in some cases, especially with the recent warming trend. The Shad Rap has continued to be reliable in the creek pockets, as well as a jerk bait, Fish Head Spin and a jig. Good luck to all the FLW Pro’s in this week’s tournament. They have hit a tough cold front coming in to start the tournament, but as always, someone will catch them.
Come fish with Rickon LakeHartwelland learn his top secret approaches and strategies that will be used by the pros in next year’s Bass Master Classic. The Classic is coming to Hartwell in February 2015. Contact Jimbo on Lanier at 770 542 7764 to book a trip with Rick. The book BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL is available. We have opened this lake up to avid bass anglers with over 100 key bass fishing holes. ken@southernfishing.com for a sample. See our web site for Rods Reels and Lures for Bass DVD on sale.
March 6, 2014
CLARKS HILL IS DOWN 2.3 FEET, 55 DEGREES & STAINED
Bass fishing is fair. Spinner baits and Fish Head Spins are to turn on. Crank baits are working and the Mossy Back X Rap is catching some good fish on wind blown points. The Rapala DT10 in hot mustard has been working well but also use the Rapala DT6. After the windy cold front passes through this weekend, look for the water to quickly warm up. Bass are being caught near the bedding areas as the females move closer and closer. They are on the secondary points heading into the coves. Use the Ito Vision 110 jerk bait with a slow jerking motion and then pause the baits for a few seconds. Add Some Mega Strike scent on the hard baits. Ask for a free sample of the BASS FISHING LAKE CLARKS HILL book. Send a sample request to ken@southernfishing.com
March 6, 2014
LAKERUSSELLIS FULL, CLEAR & 52 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair and the bass are moving out of the main lake up intothe creeks and rivers. Slow rolling a 1/2 ounce Strike King spinnerbait is working and some better fish are is biting Husky Jerks, Glass Shad Raps and Bandit crank baits. There are anglers fishing the entire lake and they are working the structure on main lake points and secondary points. The Carolinarigs on the channel ridges and any area where the bottom makes a sharp drop intodeeper water is a good pattern. The best strikes are occurring somewhere between three toten feet of water. Ask Ken for a sample of the BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELLbook @ ken@southernfishing.com
March 6, 2014
LAKESEMINOLEIS DOWN ONE FOOT, STAINED & 60 DEGREES BY MATT BATY
Bass fishing is excellent. The fish are in full prespawn mode and can be caught very easily on lipless crank baits. Use your Lowrance Electronics and mapping to look for areas such as ditches and depressions on main to lake flats, and throw a Spro Aruku Shad 85 in mud bug red. Use Sunline FX2 braid in 50 to pound test line and a high to speed Lews Tournament Speed Spool in 7:1 gear ratio. The heavy 3/4 to ounce works best because the grass has died back a lot from all the mud and cold weather. This technique is the best running right now. Another way to catch some really nice fish is to look for dead hyacinths that have been blown in around weed clumps and islands. Use a 1 1/4 to ounce Fish Catchin Fool Tungsten Weight, a 5/0 Gamakatsu Heavy Cover Flippin Hook a 4 to inch Big Bite Baits Yo Mamma in Hematoma and heavy braid. Big females will stage up underneath the hyacinths when the sun is out getting ready for the spawn. Learn how to use the Lowrance Structure Scan and Down Scan technology with Southern Fishing on the Water fishing schools. ken@southernfishing.com
March 6, 2014
LAKE GEORGEIS DOWN 2.1 FEET, 60 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair but here comes more weather. Most of the lake has some stain while the lower end is rather clear. As you can imagine, this has quite an effect on the bass fishing. When the weather is warm, the spinnerbait bite in the stained water has picked up and this is as good as we have seen in several years. Spinnerbaits in white and chartreuse worked best but use several different blade combinations. Last week we caught several fish swimming jigs through flooded vegetation. With this cold weather the temperatures may drop rapidly killing the shallow water bite. With the temperatures being projected to go back into the 70’s, the bite will to improve a bit. My best advice is to watch the weather and after we have 2-3 days of 70 degree weather. Go with the spinnerbait, shallow running crank bait and aTexasrigged worm or a jig. And as long as the water stays high, focus on flooded grass.
March 6, 2014
LAKEWEISS IS AT 2.54 FEET BELOW FULL POOL AND STAINED AND 47-49 DEGREE’S
By Mark Collins Service www.markcollins service.com 256 779 3387
Now available for sale 50 of my proven GPS waypoints for off shore structure for Bass and Crappie fishing on Weiss Lake, Alabamacontact Ken Sturdivant at ken@havefunfishing.com.
Bass fishing is good and they are being caught 4 to 8 feet deep on the creek channel ledges, humps and points, on Spinner Baits, Alabama Rigs and Carolina Rigged plastics, some fish are being caught, shallow in the back of the coves.
Crappie fishing is awesome and they are being caught long line trolling in Little River and Little Spring Creek and a few fish are starting to be caught in the bays up river near River Side Camp Ground. They are being caught trolling with 1/16 and 1/24 ounce Jiffy Jigs in colors JJ01, JJ20, JJ24, JJ25, JJ37 and Marks Special Blue. Fish are also being caught on a float and fly technique in these same areas. Crappie are also being caught in theChattoogaRiver on a float and fly and tight lining a jig about 8 feet deep. Hurley’s cove and Little Nose Creek are starting to produce some Crappie
March 6, 2014
LAKE SINCLAIR IS FULL, 58 DEGREES, MUDDY UP RIVER, MAIN LAKE STAINED, BY MATT HENRY, CALL 770 361 4210 (cell) or 478 451 0167 (SINCLAIR MARINA)
WWW.SINCLAIRMARINA.COM MATT@SINCLAIRMARINA.COM.
Bass fishing is good. The fish continue to move up and starting to stage. Fishing shallow has been best and will continue to get better. Spinnerbaits, shallow crank baits, and jigs seem to be producing the best. A Buckeye Lures 3/8 ounce chartreuse and white spinnerbait slow rolled around docks and seawalls near points seem to be producing the bigger bites. When you catch one turn around and fish the area again as these fish are moving up in schools. A Bass Hound flat side crank bait or a Spro Little John MD will catch numbers of fish as they move up on the flat points. Fire tiger or chartreuse colors will work best as the lake remains stained. Once you locate areas with fish on the spinner bait and crank bait, make sure you fish all the docks in that area with a black and blue Buckeye Mop Jig. This is a great way to catch a big fish that you might have missed. Concentrate on the walkways and backsides of docks as the shallow water will warm up quickly. The late afternoon bite is best right now since the shallows have had all day to warm up. Give us a call to book your guide trip so you don’t miss out on the fun.
March will be an incredible fishing month. Make sure to stop by our new boat showroom and see our 2013 and 2014 inventory of Nitro, Tracker, Sun Tracker, Tahoe, and Mako boats. We only have a few 2013 models left. Don’t miss out on some great deals. For more information, go to www.sinclairmarina.com or call 478 451 0167.
March 6, 2014
LAKEOCONEEIS FULL, 53 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair. The lake is full and stained over most of the lake. Water temperature is 51 to 55 degrees. Shad Raps and small crank bait with rattles fished on sea walls and around docks. Dark jigs with a rattle, brown, blue and black have been the best colors. Fish these around wood structure on the main river pockets above Sugar Creek. Spinner baits fished along any rock bank will also draw a strike. Remember to slow down your retrieve as the water is still cold below the surface. If we get a few days with worm temperatures look for the fish to start to move into the back of the creeks and major coves off of the main lake. If it gets colder, fish will move back to deeper water.
Striper report by Mark Smith of Reel Time guide service. Call 404 803 0741
Striper fishing is poor. Some fish are starting to show up at the dam for the spring run. Live bait fished on down lines will pick up a few fish. Use small baits like a very small thread fin or a crappie minnow. Most of the stripers being caught are by crappie fisherman.
Crappie fishing is good. The fish are moving into the major creeks. Use a dark jig tipped with a minnow. Spider rigs have been the best producers over the past week. Use your Lowrance to located the depth and location of the schools and adjust your depth to put the jig on top of the fish. Over the next few weeks the largest fish will be moving into the coves and creeks to spawn so now it the time to fill a cooler with big slabs.
Make sure you stop by Sugar Creek Marina and pick up your spoons and all your tackle needs. You can also book your crappie and striper trips with Reel Time Guide Service at 404 803 0741 or reeltime@bellsouth.net Learn how to use the Lowrance technology with Ken Sturdivant. Free sonar set up ken@southernfishing.com
March 6, 2014
JACKSONLAKEIS DOWN 2.6 FEET, STAINED & 54 DEGREES
Bass fishing is fair. Tussahaw creek consistently remains clear. Some tournament anglers are finding more quality fish willing to bite this week, and often claim the big fish are falling for the jig. Spinner baits and crank baits are also fishing well. The spinner bait bite is best in the morning and crank baits should be used to search for staging fish throughout the day. Overcast skies and wind will help the spinner bait produce through more of the day. Rock has been a primary focus through the winter months. Fish are holding on hard clay and chunk rock bottom, but pay attention to wood cover as well. Big fish are holding in the wood and will take a spinner bait in the morning. Other configurations will work but in the stained water, try the 3/8 ounce chartreuse bait with goldColoradoblades. Probe the brush and blow downs with the jig and crank baits during the day. For cranking, a #7 Shad rap and the Bandit 200 are among the best choices. In the colored water, choose a crank bait with some color. Fire Tiger is one good choice. A green pumpkin or black lizard can be usedCarolinaorTexasrigged. A jig of 3/8 ounce or lighter should be used for its slower fall. Go with black and blue in the stain. Green in the any clear water.
Our new DVD, “FINDING FISH WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY” is now on sale! You can see a FREE! sample on www.havefunfishing.com
“SONAR WITH KEN STURDIVANT” at Bass Pro Shops “Outdoor World” in the Outdoor Skills Workshop. Lowrance Pro Staff Member Ken Sturdivant will go over the settings for the sonar @ 2pm the last Saturday of the month.
If you would like to have a free set up sheet for your sonar, send me an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net and ask for the “Sonar Setup Quick List”.
We have these books for sale: “BASS FISHING ON WEST POINT LAKE”, “BASSFISHINGLAKERUSSELL”, “BASSFISHINGWESTPOINTLAKE” and “BASS FISHING LAKE HARTWELL”. These books are written by Tim White and Ken Sturdivant and each one has over 65 locations exclusively for bass and covers every week of the year. Each book $39.00. If you would like a sample of any book, send us an e mail to kensturdivant@earthlink.net. Our mailing address is: Southern Fishing Schools Inc. 106 Hickory Ridge, Cumming Georgia 30040.